Catherine Hardy

Ukraine has problems of its own to contend with.

But the country is still managing to shelter refugees – from far-flung war-torn places as well as those closer to home.

An estimated 3,000 have come from abroad, like Mariana from Angola: “It’s like a war, you have to constantly fight for your rights. For example, regarding my skin colour it’s not everywhere you can find a job even if you have all the diplomas or the necessary qualifications”.

The conflict in the east of Ukraine has had a huge impact. The figure of 3000 refugees is dwarfed by the estimated 1.2 million internally displaced:

“We thought we would only be leaving Luhansk for a few weeks,” Tetyana Tkachenko told Euronews, “but we have stayed in Kyiv. Our parents are still there, life goes on there somehow. But where do we go back to — an unrecognized republic?”

Money raised from selling goods at this charity fair will go towards supporting both refugees and the internally-displaced in Ukraine and helping them find work.

It is also hoped the event will go some way towards building understanding and tolerance.